Murray Bushrangers girls to play for first time in 11 months in NAB League opener

COVID-19 rules brought an end to the 2020 NAB League season just three rounds in, but the side certainly hasn't lost any hunger.

The Bushrangers haven't played a game since March 7 last year.

Assistant coach Mario de Santa-ana is unsure what to expect given the side hasn't had any practice matches and only trained eight times this pre-season, but he can't fault the enthusiasm.

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"They were jumping out of their skin at training on Wednesday night and they're all ready to go," he said.

"We're pretty happy with the squad we've got and think we've got a reasonably competitive side for round one.

"We've kept 85 per cent of the squad from last season and only added another six, so that group that was there last year is pretty keen for a game this year no doubt."

The Bushrangers have 11 debutants in the round one squad, with at least nine to make their first appearance for the club, including Yarrawonga's Ava Loughnan.

"Ava is the youngest in the squad this week at 15. We're really excited about how she's come on in the last 18 months," de Santa-ana said.

"We haven't had a lot of contact with the girls over the COVID period, but she's done a lot of work on her own to really enhance her skills.

"She's a really aggressive and competitive small forward and we're hoping she might sneak a couple of goals on debut on her home ground.

"We've got some really good players from around the Border in our side.

"We're really excited about 16-year-old Grace Hay from Lavington who is a top netballer as well and seems to be quite passionate about her football at the moment.

"She played last year for us and absolutely dominated in the game we played before we finished, so we're expecting big things from her.

"We've also got Abbi Fielder from Lavington on debut who is a really quick half forward and we're really keen to see how she goes.

"Kristy Whitehead from Wodonga Raiders has been in the program for three or four years and is one of our captains.

"She's in sensational form in terms of her fitness and is extremely skilled."

Whitehead and top-age prospect Kate Adams are co-captains, with Riverina pair Ally Morphett and Mikayla Jones vice-captains.

Adams and Alpine Lions product Sophia McCarthy are the two top-agers in the Bushrangers squad.

First bounce is at 12.15pm.

The round one team is: B: Chloe Locke, Emily Williams, Tayissa Gray; HB: Grace Hay, Kasey Bosschetti, Molly Kennedy; C: Aurora Smith, Kristy Whitehead, Zara Hamilton; HF: Mikayla Jones, Sophia McCarthy, Lily Sharp; F: Ashleigh Pilmott, Mindy Quade, Shanay Desmond; R: Ally Morphett, Keeley Skepper, Kate Adams; INT: Cody Power, Sarah Lange-Richards, Ava Loughnan, Lucy Dawe, Abbi Fielder, Maddison Gray; EMG: Kaylea Kobzan, Taylah Power.